Carlos Martinez

CHICAGO (May 7, 2007) - The U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for an international training camp, led by head coach Jim Barlow. The 20-player training camp kicked off on April 27, and included four matches.

The U.S. first took on the Boca Juniors on April 30. Dominic Henry opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he one-timed a volley from a George Pantelic cross to beat the Boca goalkeeper. Charles Renken converted a penalty kick in the 55th minute, and Ross Tomaselli finished a ball slotted by Edson Lemus to make the final score 3-0.

Two days later the U-15s were back on the field against Argentina. After a scoreless first half, Argentina came out of the locker room and put one away quickly on a breakaway that beat goalkeeper Earl Edwards. The U.S. answered quickly when Jared Watts played a through ball that sent Andrew Craven on a breakaway of his own, which he put away to tie the score in the 50th minute. Less than a minute later, the U.S. took the lead when Lemus beat the Argentinean ‘keeper on the dribble and slotted the ball to Renken to make it 2-1. Argentina found the equalizer in the 60th minute after a scramble in the box was put away, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Next up for the United States was a match up against Uruguay. The U.S. found themselves down 1-0 after a 21st minute goal. In the 55th minute, Renken took the ball end line and slotted it to Pantelic who took a one-timer that found the back of the net to even the score. But in the 78th minute, Uruguay hit a 35-yard rocket that sailed perfectly into the upper corner to make it 2-1, and would hold off the Americans for the win.

The final game of the camp pitted the U.S. against local club Gimnasia on May 6. Gimnasia came out on the attack, and in the 10th minute fired home a rebound to take a 1-0 lead. In the 31st minute, the tandem of Pantelic and Renken hooked up again, this time with Pantelic dribbling along the end line and hitting a low cross to find Renken, who hit a one-timer that tied the score. In the 80th minute, a foul just outside the box led to a Tomaselli free-kick, which he converted to give the Americans a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.

The U.S. closed out camp with a 2-1-1 record, and averaged two goals per game. Renken tallied three goals and added an assist, Tomaselli, who had two goals, and Pantelic who added a goal and two assists.

The U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team will be starting a weeklong training camp on Feb. 17 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The U-15 BNT will have three games through the course of the week, on Feb. 19, 21, and 23, with opponents yet to be decided. The camp will run through Sat., Feb. 24 with head coach Jim Barlow leading the 24 players.